Cell surface glycoprotein, member of immunoglobulin superfamily; at 2p12

Heterodimer of an alpha (CD8A, OMIM #186910 ) and a beta chain (CD8B, OMIM #186730 ) linked by two disulfide bonds; each chain has significant homology to immunoglobulin variable light chains; is present as a heterodimer on thymocytes and as homodimer on peripheral blood T cells

Both the CD8 antigen (acting as a coreceptor) and the T cell receptor recognize antigens displayed by an antigen presenting cell (APC) in the context of class I MHC molecules; CD8 binds to non-polymorphic region of class I molecules; may increase avidity of interactions between cytotoxic T cell and target cell during antigen-specific activation

Can kill target cells by recognizing peptide-MHC complexes on them or by secreting cytokines capable of signaling through death receptors on target cell surface

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